As a copywriter, you likely spend a ton of your time trying to come up with new and original subject lines to grab attention. It’s hard work, right? So let me ask you… Should you even bother? Especially when there’s a way you can hijack existing subject lines – that are otherwise considered boring – and use […]
A somewhat crime-heavy reading list this month! But that’s the thing with many crime novels: they’re often such easy reads that when you read one, you want to read another. It’s for this very reason that I think it’s worth dipping into the genre every now and again to look at what makes them so […]
The second here in our series of ‘quotes about copywriting’. Every now and again I’ll be posting a new snippet of copywriting advice that you’ll hopefully want to share with the world. Best of all, by taking advantage of the design skills of my partner Lin at Rhinett Design, not only will the quotes be useful […]
Another copywriter has been amusing my girlfriend! But it’s OK. There’s nothing dodgy going on. In fact, if you’ve ever seen the famous copywriter Drayton Bird give a talk, you’ll already know he’s a charming old sod.And irreverent too, which is probably why I get on with him. (I guess our shared appreciation of swearing helps too.) I’ve […]
You know that feeling when you read something you agree with and you start nodding? Even though you’re just reading words on a page, the author has written something that strikes such a chord, you can’t help but crack a wry smile, nod along and think: yeah, I thought that too. Do you ever get that? […]
As always, I’ve got a mixed bag of recommendations on the reading list for you this month. We’ve got a biography of a recognised genius, a book of general copywriting advice and a detective novel set in Istanbul. See what I mean about a mixed bag? Hopefully you’ll choose to read one or two. Unless, […]
As the rain pelts down outside, we take our seats in the main hall. I guess this is what they call a buzz. To me, I’m not so sure, it’s more of a warmth. A glow maybe? It might just be the lights bouncing off the wood-lined walls. Maybe it’s that most people have a day off work. But I think […]
Let’s take a field trip… Indeed, I’m editing this following a field trip of my own to Delray Beach, Florida. I was there for the annual copywriting conference held by @AWAI_online. As it’s the home of many Agora affiliates, I’ve been visiting Delray for many years to regularly catch up with some of the top writers […]
Catching up with Drayton Bird at the AWAI copywriting conference in Florida. Hello! Just wanted to post a quick note from my travels, which I’ll hopefully follow with some extended thoughts soon. Indeed, I’m working on a new piece at the moment all about understanding the importance of emotions in copy. Ironically, this seems to […]
To write truly successful sales letters, you need to understand inherently what makes people buy things. It’s not easy. It takes time. You need to watch people. You need to listen to people. You need to interact with people. Put the time in and eventually you’ll start to think differently. You’ll be able to look […]